Photo By Rick Emert | Staff Sgt. Misty Spencer, right, and 2nd Lt. Jeffery Spencer, husband and wife, pose...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert
1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A 1st Air Cavalry Brigade medical Soldier's husband not only supported her indefinite re-enlistment, but he also re-enlisted her.
Staff Sgt. Misty Spencer, Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support "Cold Steel" Battalion, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, was re-enlisted by her husband, 2nd Lt. Jeffery Spencer from the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div.
Misty, who hails from Reno, Nev., said she jumped at the chance to have her husband of one year and a half issue the oath of re-enlistment Oct. 6.
"How often do you get to have your spouse at your re-enlistment – let alone being the one to re-enlist you," she said. "I thought it would be great to have him re-enlist me."
She was supposed to be the first Soldier that her husband re-enlisted. Instead, Jeffery, who was in the Navy as an enlisted man for eight years before becoming an Army officer, issued the oath of enlistment just a few days earlier to one of his Soldiers in the explosive ordnance disposal security platoon that he leads.
"I thought it would be a great thing to do, and I was happy that (Misty) chose me to do it," he said.
Although Misty knows now that she will make the Army a career, 10 years ago she had no interest in even joining the military.
"My best friend called me from the recruiting station to pick her up, because she didn't have a ride home," she said. "The recruiters started talking to me about enlisting, but I wasn't interested. I ended up taking her there a second time, and they talked me into taking the (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)."
The two enlisted in the Army under the buddy program, which guaranteed they would attend the same Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training courses.
It didn't quite work out that way.
"They couldn't get us out on the same flight," Misty said. "My flight left first, and I got on it and went to Basic Training. She never got on her flight. I was so mad at her; I didn't talk to her again until Basic Training was over. But, we are still friends to this day. She is a stay-at-home-mom; which is what she wants to do, and I'm happy for her. I would call her when I was stationed in Europe, and she would ask what I was up to. I would say: 'I'm going to Paris,' or whatever my plans were."
Later in her career, she worked at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Phoenix, where she was part of the medical staff that conducted screenings of potential military enlistees.
At the MEPS station, she met her future husband, who worked there as a civilian employee. She also met countless Soldiers who were trying to re-enter the military after having voluntarily separated.
"When I was stationed at the MEPS, people would come through trying to get back in the Army, saying they never should have got out," Misty said.
This helped her decide on sticking with the Army as a career, even though it will mean future deployments.
"I know that I want to make the Army a career," she said. "I know that this could mean coming back to Iraq (multiple) times. Right now, we have no children, so that makes it easier."
"I was always interested in medicine; I never had a problem with blood, and I like to help people," she said. "I've thought about medical school, but it is not the right path for me. I have two options that I am looking at for myself: put in a flight packet or become a registered nurse."
Even though she's doing her dream job and is pleased with her career choice, taking the 10-year plunge wasn't easy. The indefinite re-enlistment is required for enlisted Soldiers who choose to re-enlist, and it covers the second half of an enlisted career – 10 or more years.
"My first thought was that I couldn't believe I was already at this point in my career," she said. "My second thought was: 'Am I actually going to do this?' It scares you for a second, knowing that you are going through with it."
Her husband said he supported her decision without thinking twice.
"I am pleased that she re-enlisted; she is doing what she planned to do, which is make a career out of the Army," he said. "The goal is to retire together at the same time, since we have about the same amount of years in service."
With any luck, the buddy system will work a little better for Misty this time around.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2007 09:05 |
| Story ID: | 12984 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 350 |
| Downloads: | 288 |
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